Helical pump

ABSTRACT

A pump comprising a housing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber with a pump chamber therebetween, a wall on the pump chamber having a first helical thread formed thereon, a rotor in the pump chamber having a second helical thread in engagement with the first helical thread, the pump chamber having a larger diameter than the rotor so that crescent-shaped fluid containing pockets are formed between the rotor and the wall of the pump chamber, an eccentric drive for causing the rotor to revolve in the path of a circle so as to provide sequential contact between outer portions of the rotor and the wall of the pump chamber, and a linkage for preventing the rotor from rotating about its own axis during said revolving.

United States Patent 1 1 Kopczynski 11 3,844,690 1451 Oct. 29, 1974 HELICAL PUMP [76] Inventor: John F. Kopczynski, 1671 Sweeney,

Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar Assistant Examiner-Leonard Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph P. Gastel [57] ABSTRACT A pump comprising a housing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber with a pump chamber therebe- [52] U.S. Cl. 418/48, 418/55 tween, a wall on the pump chamber having a first heli- [51] Int. Cl. F041: 1/06 cal thread formed thereon, a rotor in the pump cham- [58] Fie d of Search 118/ 8, 55, 160, 220 ber having a second helical thread in engagement with the first helical thread, the pump chamber having a [5 6] References Cited larger diameter than the rotor so that crescent-shaped UNITED STATES PATENTS fluid containing pockets are formed between the rotor 2 358 721 9/1944 Ljungdahl 418,55 and the wall of the pump chamber, an eccentric drive 2 764 101 9/1956 Rand........:::::I II: 418/55 for Causing the rotor to revolve in the P Ofa circle 3:238:8s2 3/1966 Ryffel 418/48 x as to provide sequential wntact between outer P tions of the rotor and the wall of the pump chamber, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS and a linkage for preventing the rotor from rotating 1,181,550 11/1964 Germany a 418/ about its Own axis during Said revolving.

150,078 12/1931 Switzerland 418/55 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 7 22 70 7 49 77 2 3 l 45. l 2 ll l f g3 22 27 3 35 3 l 76 37 1 36 3a m 52 50 21 |l77+l a]? 2'6 3 g 74 as HELICAL PUMP The present invention relates to an improved pump for pumping fluids.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved pump having relatively few movable parts wherein a fluid is positively displaced by a rotor which is caused to revolve within a pumping chamber. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pump in which simple mechanism is utilized to prevent the revolving rotor from rotating relative to the housing in which it is located, thereby obviating wear due to relative rotation of parts which might otherwise be experienced. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.

The improved pump of the present invention includes a housinghavingan inlet chamber and an outlet chamber with a pumping chamber therebetween. The pumping chamber has a wall in the form of a first helical thread. A rotor is mounted within the pumping chamber and has an outer surface in the form of a second helical thread, which mates with the first helical thread. A drive is provided to cause the rotor to revolve in a circular path within the pumping chamber, and since the outer diameter ofthe rotor is smaller than the outer diameter of the wall of the pumping chamber, fluid containing pockets located therebetween will be moved through the pumping chamber from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber. Means are provided for preventing the rotor from rotating about its own axis to thereby minimize relative rotation between the rotor and the pump chamber. The various aspects of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved pump of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of-FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line 44- of'FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rotor.

The improved pump of thepresent invention includes a housing 11 having a central housing portion 12, to which end plate-13risattached by screws 14, and to which end plate 15 is secured-byscrews 16. Central housing portion 12 includes a-bore'l7 therein for effecting communication between fluid inlet conduit 18 and inlet chamber 19 formed between central housing portion 12 and end plate 13. An. outlet chamber 20 is located between central housing portion 12 and end plate 15, and this outlet chamber is in communication with outlet conduit -2l whichis-threaded into bushing 22 which in turn is threaded into'bore 23 in central housing portion 12. r

A pumping chamber 24 is formed in central housing portion 12 and extends between inlet chamber 19 and outlet chamber 20. The wall of chamber 24 is in the form of a continuous helical thread 25 having an outer diameter at 26 and an inner'diameter at 27. A rotor 28 has a helical thread 29 having an outer diameter at 30 and an inner diameter at 31. Thesides 32 and 33 of thread 29 effect a sealing engagement with sides 34 and 35, respectively, ofthread25. Because the outerdiameter of rotor 28. is smaller than the outer diameter- 26 of pumping chamber 24, there will always be a plurality of revolving crescent-shaped spaces 36- and-T36 (FIG. 4) between the outermostportions of rotor 28and the wall of chamber-Mas the rotor revolves. These-spaces 36 and 36' are shifted from aposi-tion proximate inlet chamber 19 to a position in communication with outlet chamber 20 as a result of revolving -rotor,--28within.

pump chamber 24, to thus carry fluid" from'the inlet chamber to the outlet:- chamber. 7

It can be visualized thatpend-i 2,9" of threitd ZSI- merges into the inner diameter portion3l of the" rotor. The same is true atend, 29" of thread 29. Furthermore, the opposite ends ofthread 25 merge into the-outerdiameter 26 of the pumping chamber; w-al'Lascau' be-visu-alized-from FIG. 3; Itis because oftheforegoing inherent dimensioning that fluid; canenter spaces;3.6}fand"36' from chamberr 19' and can leave these spaces into. chamber 20.

In order to revolve rotor 28, a drive ISfiPFOYIdQdWl'lICh includes shaft 37 journalled' in bearings, ini'neck' 39 of end plate 13.. A. seal '38 prevents the pumped fluid from entering bearings 38. Shaft-*37' includes azportion 40 which has arr-axis which is offsetfrom; the main-axis of shaft 37. andi's paralI'eI-thereto. Port-ion. 40-.is receivedin bearing 41' on which rotor-28 Ear-mounted: A seal 41 prevents the pumped'fluid fr omientering-bearing 41. A suitable source offrotaryrmotion .iscoupIed-to shaft 37 to cause-rotor 28 to revolve about theaxiszof shat-r37 so that the crescent?shaped?spaces--36 and"36," cause fluid-tobe carriedfrom.inletchamber 9etonout+ let chamber 20;v It: is to be especiallyv notedfthatrdurih'g the revolving of rotor: 28 its-centenw-ilkmove-irrthe path of a circle, butrotor. 28 will noterotateabout itsown:

rotating. about its axis. Arm 43"-also preventsrotor28 from-advancing-. axially.

Itywill be; appreciated that 1becauseeofrthet-differe-nce in diameters of thethread in the. housinganctthethread on the rotor, their dimensions will-have to includesufficientclearance so that they-.do not .bindiduri'ngrevolv ing of .the rotor. i It will, thus. be. seen that the. foregoing,pump-ismanifestlycapable of achievingthe a b )ve-:-enurr --1eratedcob jects and while a preferred. embodimentshas beendis closed,; itwill beappreciated that thepresentinvention is not limited-thereto but may. be otherwise; embodie withinthe scope Qf-the following claims.

What is claimed is: 1; A pump comprising a housing, aninlet chamber in said; housing, an outlet; chamber. in said housing, a pumping chamber positioned between'saidinlet-'cham ber and, a said outlet chamber, said, pumping chamber having a wallwwith -a firsthelical'threadc thereonwi-th said first helicalxthread having 'a first-inner -diameter and, a first outer diameter, a rotor-havingarsecond helr.

cal thread thereon, said second helical thread having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter, said second outer diameter being larger than said first inner diameter but smaller than said first outer diameter so as to provide fluid receiving spaces between said wall and said rotor, said first and second helical threads having side walls for providing sealing engagement with each other, means for revolving said rotor in a circular path relative to said pumping chamber so as to produce sequential contact between circumferential portions of said rotor and said pumping chamber, said means for revolving said rotor comprising means for mounting said rotor eccentrically in said pumping chamber, means for holding said rotor against rotation about its axis duringsaid revolving thereof, said means for mounting said rotor eccentrically comprising a shaft having first and second portions with said second portion being offset from said first portion and with the axis of said second portion extending substantially parallel to the axis of said first portion,first bearing means for mounting said first portion of said shaft on said housing, second bearing means for mounting said rotor on said second portion of said shaft, said means for holding said rotor against rotation comprising an arm of said link slidably connected to said pin. 

1. A pump comprising a housing, an inlet chamber in said housing, an outlet chamber in said housing, a pumping chamber positioned between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, said pumping chamber having a wall with a first helical thread thereon with said first helical thread having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter, a rotor having a second helical thread thereon, said second helical thread having a second inner diamEter and a second outer diameter, said second outer diameter being larger than said first inner diameter but smaller than said first outer diameter so as to provide fluid receiving spaces between said wall and said rotor, said first and second helical threads having side walls for providing sealing engagement with each other, means for revolving said rotor in a circular path relative to said pumping chamber so as to produce sequential contact between circumferential portions of said rotor and said pumping chamber, said means for revolving said rotor comprising means for mounting said rotor eccentrically in said pumping chamber, means for holding said rotor against rotation about its axis during said revolving thereof, said means for mounting said rotor eccentrically comprising a shaft having first and second portions with said second portion being offset from said first portion and with the axis of said second portion extending substantially parallel to the axis of said first portion, first bearing means for mounting said first portion of said shaft on said housing, second bearing means for mounting said rotor on said second portion of said shaft, said means for holding said rotor against rotation comprising an arm having first and second ends, first connecting means connecting said first end to said rotor, and second connecting means connecting said second end to said housing, said link and said first and second connecting means including a slidable connection and a pivotable connection.
 2. A pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first connecting means comprises a rigid connection between said first end of said link and said rotor and wherein said second connecting means comprises a pin pivotably mounted in said housing with said second end of said link slidably connected to said pin. 